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World Education (WEI)/ Bantwana Initiative : Reducing Children ’ s Vulnerability with an Integrated Livelihood, Protection, and Psychosocial Support (PSS) Service Package The Bantwana Initiative is a joint program of World Education, Inc. and John Snow, Inc. (JSI). Bantwana ’ s Mission .
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World Education (WEI)/Bantwana Initiative: Reducing Children’s Vulnerability with an Integrated Livelihood, Protection, and Psychosocial Support (PSS) Service Package The Bantwana Initiative is a joint program of World Education, Inc. and John Snow, Inc. (JSI)
Bantwana’s Mission • Findsustainable, local solutions in caring for OVC and caregivers in high HIV prevalence countries • Improve environment of OVC support through policy and advocacy • Identify effective entry points to comprehensive OVC service delivery: • Bantwana’s programs in Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland reach 90,000 OVC annually • ▪ shelter • ▪ child protection • ▪ psychosocial support • ▪ legal rights • ▪ health • ▪ education • ▪ livelihoods • ▪ nutrition
Western Uganda Context • High HIV and poverty have led to high numbers of OVC at risk for exploitation, abuse, and HIV infection • Since 2008, Bantwana has built the capacity of 9 CBO partners to deliver integrated livelihoods, child protection, and psychosocial services in four underserved districts • 4,500 children and their caregivers have received integrated support
The Western Uganda Bantwana Program • Livelihoods: 1,191 households have received support; 56 village savings and loans have been formed with 1,353 members linked to broader markets • Child protection: 55 Child Rights Clubs formed in schools, community-level systems strengthened through improved referrals • PSS: monthly home visits by 144 trained PSS volunteers who provide critical emotional and social support as well as information on health, nutrition, and livelihoods
Tools & Results Child Profiling Baseline and Follow up Study (2009 & 2011): An integrated livelihoods, child protection, and PSS service package positively impacts child-level wellbeing Child Protection Case Studies (2010): Strengthened linkages among school, community, government and households improves child protection outcomes PSS Assessment (2010): Monthly visits by PSS volunteers significantly contribute to improved emotional wellbeing of caregivers and children Evaluation Study (with Columbia University 2011): Strong correlation between improvements in household economic status and improvements in meeting children’s basic needs and overall wellbeing